Method of stimulating fastigium nucleus to treat neurological disorders

1. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient's brain, the method comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient's head;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the stimulation lead adjacent a selected structure of the patient's brain, the stimulation of which increases the blood flow to the patient's brain.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer's Disease.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming an opening through the patient's cranium, wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head through the opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the selected brain structure.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the selected brain structure.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stimulating the selected brain structure with the stimulation lead to increase the flow of blood to the brain, thereby treating the disorder.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient's brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

11. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient's head via the circulatory system of the patient;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient;

placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient's brain; stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient's brain.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer's Disease.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient's brain.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient's brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

21. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical lead within the head of the patient via a blood vessel;

advancing the lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient's brain.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the medical procedure comprises treating a neurological disorder.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient's brain.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer's Disease.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the electrical lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the electrical lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

28. The method of claim 21 , further comprising stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the electrical lead.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient's brain.

30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient's brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

31. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

32. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

33. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient's head;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient's brain.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient's brain.

35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer's Disease.

37. The method of claim 33 , further comprising forming an opening through the patient's cranium, wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head through the opening.

38. The method of claim 33 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

39. The method of claim 33 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

40. The method of claim 33 , further comprising stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient's brain.

42. The method of claim 40 , further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient's brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

43. The method of claim 33 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

44. The method of claim 33 , wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.